What: Infinite San Francisco: Chinatown
When: Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 12 PM – 2:30 PM
Where: The University of San Francisco campus, McLaren 250

Chinatown Event Panelists:

• Kevin Chun, Professor of Psychology and Co-Founder of Asian American Studies, USF
• Rev. Norman Fong, Deputy Director, Chinatown Community Development Center
• Jenny Lam, Director of Community Initiatives, Chinese for Affirmative Action
• Sue Lee, Executive Director, Chinese Historical Society of America
• Carlos Serrano-Quan, Executive Director, Chinese Newcomers Service Center

Moderator: Dawn Lee-Tu, Director of Cultural Centers, USF

Cosponsored by the Asian American Studies Program and The Center for the Pacific Rim.

More on the event website

First Name Basis (101 MIN) – Tickets and Showtimes
This collection of heartfelt and compelling films explores the complexity of self. Be a firsthand witness to the journeys of these characters—including Pacific Island female rugby players, Kolkata boxers, young b-boys, and Filipino overseas workers—as they let you in on their most kept secrets and intimate lives.

Roots and Reality (84 MIN) – Tickets and Showtimes
Reality can be far more fascinating than any fiction, as these documentary shorts make abundantly clear. Learn from an Indonesian choreographer, students in an academy for the deaf, six proud Sikh men, a master Lisu musician, and a window washer in Shanghai, and expand your horizons.

(The entire film festival runs from March 8-18.)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd9GuXYJ2II

May C. Louie of San Francisco, California, passed away peacefully on February 6, 2012, at the age of 87.

May was born in Hong Kong on October 1, 1924. As a child she attended Catholic schools organized by the Maryknoll Sisters’ missionaries, and later pursued her college degree at Lingnan University and Hong Kong University.

In the mid-1940s May was introduced to Sinclair Louie, and after a persistent courtship they married in 1947. Shortly after marriage, the Louies moved to San Francisco.

During the next five decades, May partnered with her husband to open souvenir shops in San Francisco’s Chinatown that are now familiar landmarks and tourist destinations on Grant Avenue. At one point they owned and operated ten shops, mostly in Chinatown but also on Market Street and in Japantown as well. More than two thousand employees worked for them over the course of fifty years. Many of their former employees – now successful in professions ranging from law, to medicine, to public service throughout the Bay Area – recall working for May and their Chinatown shops as their first job.

The Louies, like many Chinese immigrants, experienced pronounced racism in San Francisco. For example, they were the first-known Chinese American family to purchase a home and reside in Sea Cliff, and for that they endured death threats and legal harassment. That experience, among many, shaped May’s calling as a community leader.

After the Loma Prieta earthquake, May founded the Chinatown Merchants Association and organized North America’s first Autumn Moon Festival in 1990. Today, the annual festival draws over 100,000 visitors each year to Chinatown.

May and her husband Sinclair are often considered to be the leading philanthropist family of San Francisco Chinatown. Together they have donated several millions of dollars to educational institutions, youth groups, and advocacy organizations dear to their heart.

May is survived by her husband Sinclair, her daughters Betty and Eva, and two granddaughters. May and Sinclair’s son Robert passed away in the late 1970s.

Vigil service will be held on Sunday, February 19, 4 to 6 p.m. at Evergreen Mortuary, 4545 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco. Vigil prayers are at 5 p.m.

Funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, February 21, 10 a.m. at Old Saint Mary’s Church, 660 California Street, San Francisco.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following organizations: the Chinatown branch of the San Francisco YMCA, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Chinese Historic Society of America, St. Mary’s School and Chinese Catholic Center, and Robert Joseph Louie Foundation.

Reach the San Francisco Chronicle‘s article on the late Ms. Louie.

Event info on www.cpasf.org
On Facebook

Mayor Ed Lee Headlines CAA’s Annual Membership Meeting

WHAT: Chinese for Affirmative Action Annual Membership Meeting Featuring a Conversation with San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee

WHEN: Thursday, February 9, 2012 – 6:00-8:30pm PST

WHERE: Gordon J. Lau Elementary School, Auditorium, 950 Clay Street, San Francisco

WHY: Chinese for Affirmative Action hosts a membership meeting at the beginning of each year to highlight issues relevant to immigrant, low-income, and limited-English proficient communities in San Francisco. We invite a guest speaker each year to discuss timely topics related to our mission and the communities’ needs. This year we are pleased to host San Francisco Mayor Lee to have a direct conversation about our city, our community, and our future. Mayor Lee was elected on November 8, 2011 by San Francisco voters while he was serving as Interim Mayor. He is the first Asian American mayor in San Francisco history.

This event is open to the public.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE:

• 6:00pm – CAA Membership Meeting to Provide an Organizational Update on Our 2012 Priorities and Vote on the 2012 Board of Trustees
• 6:30pm – Featured Program: A Conversation with Mayor Ed Lee and CAA Executive Director Vincent Pan
• 7:30pm – Open Reception

PARKING: Due to school rules, the school parking lot will only be open for the public STARTING AT 6PM. MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA can park in the school lot starting at 6pm for the duration of the event. Parking will be strictly enforced for everyone; please check-in with the parking attendant upon arrival.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Susan Hsieh, CAA Communications and Membership Manager
Office: 415-274-6760 x303
Email: shsieh at caasf dot org

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Volunteers are needed for our annual membership meeting on Feb. 9, 2012. This is one of CAA’s biggest events of the year, and this year we are excited to have San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee join us as the guest speaker. We need volunteers like you to make this event successful.

CAA Membership Meeting: A Conversation with Mayor Ed Lee
Thursday, Feb 9, 2012, 6-9pm
Gordon J. Lau Elementary School Auditorium
950 Clay Street, San Francisco

Volunteers are needed for a variety of roles:

• greeters and ushers
• food and refreshment servers
• photographers
• stage and A/V assistants

The perks are:

• free entry into the event
• free food
• hear from the Mayor about his vision for our community, our City, and our future
• learn about CAA’s work and hang out with some pretty cool people
• the satisfaction of helping your local nonprofit!

The total volunteer time is from 5-10pm, but can be broken up into shifts based on your schedule. To volunteer, please email Susan Hsieh at shsieh@caasf.org with the following info:

1. your name
2. the time you want to volunteer (i.e. 5-8pm, 7-10pm, or a shift of your choosing)
3. your email and phone number

And we’ll get back to you with more info. Thanks for helping out CAA!

Conversation with Mayor Ed Lee
at CAA’s Annual Membership Meeting
Thursday, February 9, 2012

Gordon J. Lau Elementary School Auditorium
950 Clay Street, San Francisco
Doors open at 5:30 pm

PROGRAM:
6:00 pm: Membership Meeting*
6:30 pm: Conversation with the Mayor

ADMISSION:
Free for CAA Members
$20 Suggested Donation for Non-Members
Or Become a CAA Year-Long Member at $50!

*Members will vote on the 2012 Board of Trustees slate at 6:15 pm

Reception with light refreshments provided after the program.
For childcare and Cantonese interpretation, please call 415-274-6750.

If you would like us to ask Mayor Lee a specific question, please email your question to info@caasf.org by this Wednesday noon (PST) and we will pick a few from those submitted.

Facebook Event

Volunteer for this event

Media Contact: Susan Hsieh, 415-274-6760 x303

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (January 20, 2012) — Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown (華埠教育機會之友會) announced today the final number of donations for the fundraising campaign to help City College of San Francisco complete the construction and prepare for the college’s opening at the Chinatown branch this year.

The total amount to-date raised is $457,679 and exceeds the original $400,000 goal and was raised through eight weeks of hard work from community members, including City College students and faculty, who volunteered their time and efforts. Volunteers spent two weekends on the streets in Chinatown and the Richmond District. There was also a fundraising dinner held last year on December 16.

Another $400,000 was donated by generous patron and former City College student Lillie Wong (黃鳳瓊) (also the aunt of CCSF Trustee Lawrence Wong).

City College of San Francisco has received $145 million in state and local bond funds to construct the new campus facility, but was short $800,000 to purchase equipment and furniture necessary for the library, culinary program, and science labs. The fundraising campaign has appealed to community members to donate whatever they can to benefit the new campus facility. Donations collected by the fundraising campaign have ranged from $1 to $50,000.

The fundraising campaign was an unprecedented grassroots effort that cut across different segments of the community – community-service groups, churches, family/district associations, businesses, labor unions, students, faculty, and administrators. Speakers at the press conference acknowledged the different constituent groups within the community who helped make this fundraiser a success.

The campus is a result of over 30 years of advocacy by the community to bring a permanent educational facility for the Chinatown North Beach community. The latest CCSF campus facility to offer residents affordable, quality education will soon open its doors starting in 2012. Hailed as one of the nicest facilities in the City College family, this campus will serve an estimated 7,500 students each semester with credit and non-credit classes focusing on continuing education, ESL, citizenship, and vocational classes in hospitality, health care, and the culinary arts — essential skills training for immigrant students.

THE SPEAKERS AT TODAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE:
Henry Der（謝國器), Co-Chair of Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown
Ling-chi Wang（王靈智), Co-Chair of Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown
Calvin Wong（王家榮), Co-Chair of Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown & Advisor at Chinese American Chamber of Commerce
Harrison Lim（林炳昌), Co-Chair of Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown & Advisor at Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association
Cary Fong, Volunteer Coordinator for Grassroots Fundraising Efforts
Sarah Wan, Co-Chair of Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown
& Executive Director of CYC
Eva Cheng, Counselor at CCSF Chinatown/North Beach Campus
Cody Yu, Member of the CCSF Student Council
Joanne Low（劉瀞貞), Associate Vice Chancellor of CCSF

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Media Contact: Susan Hsieh, 415-274-6760 x303

Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown (華埠教育機會之友會）to Announce Results of Community Fundraiser to Equip New City College of SF Chinatown/North Beach Campus

WHAT: Press conference — Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown will announce the final number of donations for the fundraising campaign to help City College of San Francisco complete the construction and prepare for the college’s opening at the Chinatown branch this year.

The fundraising campaign was an unprecedented grassroots effort that cut across different segments of the community – community-service groups, churches, family/district associations, businesses, labor unions, students, faculty, and administrators. Speakers at the press conference will acknowledge the different constituent groups within the community who helped make this fundraiser a success.

WHEN: Friday, January 20, 2012 — 11:00am PST

WHERE: CAA Community Room, 17 Walter U. Lum Place, San Francisco 94108

WHO:
Henry Der（謝國器）, Co-Chair of Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown
Ling-chi Wang（王靈智）, Co-Chair of Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown
Calvin Wong（王家榮）, Co-Chair of Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown & Advisor at Chinese American Chamber of Commerce
Harrison Lim（林炳昌）, Co-Chair of Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown & Advisor at Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association
Cary Fong, Volunteer Coordinator for Grassroots Fundraising Efforts
Sarah Wan, Co-Chair of Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown & Executive Director of CYC
Eva Cheng, Counselor at CCSF Chinatown/North Beach Campus
Cody Yu, Member of the CCSF Student Council
Joanne Low（劉瀞貞）, Associate Vice Chancellor of CCSF

VISUAL: English-Chinese poster thanking the community for helping to furnish the campus.

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